Chapter 5: The Moon Mother's Chosen
1025 Words
Chapter 5: The Moon Mother's Chosen
The silver blade sliced through the air, aimed straight for Anna's heart.
Before it could reach her, the elderly woman thrust her staff forward. A burst of silver light exploded from its tip, throwing the masked warriors backward. The force slammed them against the stone walls, filling the hidden chamber with dust and shattered rock.
"Run!" the old woman shouted.
Anna stood frozen.
"But—"
"Now!"
The urgency in the woman's voice broke Anna from her shock. She turned and sprinted toward the tunnel entrance as another explosion echoed through the chamber.
Behind her, steel clashed against steel.
The old guardian was buying her time.
Anna's lungs burned as she raced through the narrow passage. The torchlight flickered wildly, casting strange shadows along the ancient walls. Every heartbeat thundered in her ears.
Suddenly, a figure landed in front of her.
It was one of the masked assassins.
He grinned beneath his hood.
"You won't escape, Luna."
He lunged.
Anna instinctively raised her arms to shield herself.
A deafening growl shook the tunnel.
The assassin barely had time to react before a massive black wolf crashed into him, sending him flying into the stone wall.
Richard.
His golden eyes blazed with fury.
The Alpha tore into the attacker with terrifying speed, his claws ripping through the assassin's armor. Within seconds, the man lay unconscious on the ground.
Richard shifted back into human form, his chest rising and falling heavily.
"Anna!"
She ran into his arms without thinking.
For a brief moment, the chaos disappeared.
"I'm here," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Richard held her tightly, as though letting go would mean losing her forever.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
"No... but there's an old woman. She stayed behind."
Richard's expression darkened.
"The Guardian..."
"You know her?"
"I've only heard stories. I thought she died decades ago."
A thunderous crash echoed from deeper inside the chamber.
Richard looked toward the tunnel.
"We have to go."
They hurried back just as the chamber came into view.
The sight stopped Anna in her tracks.
The ancient guardian knelt beside the glowing crystal, blood staining her white robes. The masked warriors surrounded her, but none dared move closer.
The crystal pulsed with brilliant silver light.
The traitor stepped forward, his cruel smile fading when he saw Richard.
"So the Alpha finally arrived."
Richard's eyes burned with rage.
"Harold."
Anna gasped.
Harold?
He had been one of Richard's most trusted advisers.
Richard's voice was cold enough to freeze the air.
"You betrayed your own pack."
Harold laughed bitterly.
"I betrayed a weak Alpha."
He pointed toward Anna.
"The moment you chose a human over your own kind, you abandoned us."
"I chose my mate."
"You chose our downfall!"
Without warning, Harold charged.
Richard met him head-on.
The impact of their clash shook the chamber.
Their fists collided with incredible force before both men shifted into enormous wolves.
The black wolf and the gray wolf circled each other, growling.
Then they attacked.
Claws flashed.
Fangs snapped.
Stone cracked beneath their weight.
Anna watched helplessly as the two powerful wolves fought with savage determination.
Harold was strong.
Stronger than Richard had expected.
Each strike pushed the Alpha backward.
Meanwhile, the remaining assassins slowly surrounded Anna.
She backed away until she reached the glowing crystal.
"There is nowhere left to run," one of them sneered.
Fear gripped her heart.
She wasn't a fighter.
She had no claws.
No wolf.
No way to defend herself.
The elderly guardian slowly lifted her head.
"Place... your hand... on the crystal..."
Anna looked at her in confusion.
"What?"
"The Moon Mother... chose you..."
The assassins rushed toward her.
With no other choice, Anna pressed her trembling palm against the crystal.
Instantly, the chamber exploded with dazzling silver light.
A powerful wave of energy burst outward.
Every assassin was thrown across the room.
Richard and Harold stopped fighting as the light engulfed them.
Anna cried out as warmth flowed through every part of her body.
Her eyes began to glow bright gold.
The strange symbols carved into the walls lit up one after another.
A soft feminine voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"The chosen Luna has awakened."
Anna felt as though countless memories flooded her mind—visions of ancient wolves, forgotten battles, and a woman wearing a crown of moonlight.
The light slowly faded.
Everyone stared at her in stunned silence.
Harold's face turned pale.
"It... it's impossible."
One of the masked warriors dropped to his knees.
"The prophecy..."
Richard shifted back into human form, unable to hide the shock in his eyes.
"Anna..."
She looked down at herself.
A glowing silver crescent moon had appeared on the inside of her wrist.
The guardian smiled weakly.
"It has returned..."
Harold's fear quickly turned into hatred.
"If the prophecy lives..."
He pulled a silver dagger from his belt.
"...then she dies tonight!"
He threw the dagger with deadly precision.
Richard moved instantly.
He stepped between Anna and the flying blade.
The dagger buried itself deep into his shoulder.
Richard staggered but remained standing.
"Richard!" Anna screamed.
The Alpha pulled the silver blade free, blood pouring from the wound.
His breathing became uneven.
Silver.
The deadliest weapon against a werewolf.
Harold smirked.
"Enjoy your victory while it lasts."
He threw a smoke bomb onto the ground.
The chamber filled with thick black smoke.
When it cleared seconds later...
Harold and the remaining traitors had vanished.
Silence filled the ancient chamber.
Richard dropped to one knee, his face pale from the poison spreading through his body.
Anna rushed to his side, catching him before he collapsed completely.
He reached up with trembling fingers and gently touched her cheek.
"They'll never stop hunting you now..."
His eyes slowly began to close.
Anna held him tightly, tears streaming down her face.
"No, Richard... stay with me."
The guardian's expression turned grave as s
he looked at the silver wound.
"The dagger was coated with Bloodbane."
Anna looked up in horror.
"What does that mean?"
The old woman closed her eyes.
"It means the Alpha has only three days to live."
End of Chapter 5
- Writer
